Garin hits back at ex-DOH consultant saying allegations are questionable, baseless

Former Health Secretary Janette Garin. INQUIRER file photo

Former Health Secretary Janette Garin denied on Saturday the accusations made by a former consultant of the Department of Health (DOH) naming her and several other Health officials of running a “mafia-like” group in the department that benefited from the controversial purchase of the Dengvaxia vaccine.

“I categorically deny any wrongdoing as former DOH Secretary and as a public servant. I always did what was best for the department to fulfill its mandate,” Garin said in a statement.

This development came after Dr. Francis Cruz, who was a consultant of former Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, exposed in a news conference about the “mafia-like” operations at the DOH.

“It is a shame that a former DOH consultant would malign the reputation of many dedicated career DOH officials. His motivation in hurling this unsubstantiated accusations against career DOH officials is very questionable,” Garin said.

She said that if Cruz supposedly knew about the alleged anomalies in the DOH, he should file cases in courts or before the Office of the Ombudsman.

She said that the doctor was supposed to be appointed as an undersecretary but was “fortunately” not appointed.

“Why is he maligning the reputation of so many DOH officials in media? Is it because his appointment as undersecretary of DOH under Secretary Ubial is no longer possible?” she added.

Garin told INQUIRER.net in a separate phone interview that she did not personally know Cruz and had never worked with him.

READ: Ex-consultant bares ‘mafia-like’ operations at DOH

The former secretary also threatened to sue Cruz for libel.

“I will definitely stop him if he is intending to destroy the DOH as an institution even if I have to file a libel case against him. He should also resign as DOH consultant if he is hitting the DOH and its officials in media, unless substantiated,” she added. /jpv